The Super Bowl menu: Stick to bite-sized snacks

With Super Bowl XLIV arriving Feb. 7, it’s time to start thinking about what tasty snacks to serve your guests while the Saints and Colts duke it out.

Lainie Steelman

With Super Bowl XLIV arriving Feb. 7, it’s time to start thinking about what tasty snacks to serve your guests while the Saints and Colts duke it out.

Personally, I don’t watch the game for the football. I watch for the commercials and the half-time show. This year, the half-time show will feature classic rock by The Who, which should make for a rockin’ event.

Television events like the Super Bowl are made for appetizers. Small bites that don’t require eating utensils are easy to hold on a paper plate while sitting on a sofa or chair. Plus, using paper plates and forgoing eating utensils make clean-up easier. After the game, all you’ll need for clean-up is a garbage sack.

Dessert should be just as easy. Prepare your favorite brownies, either homemade or from a mix, and doctor them up with peanut butter M&Ms or whatever else you desire.

So, kick back on game day with the following snacks.

Hot sausage snacks

These are so filling that your guests won’t feel like they’re missing out on a main dish.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown the hamburger and sausage in a large skillet; drain. Return the meat to the skillet and add the Velveeta and spices. Stir until cheese melts. Spread the mixture on cocktail rye bread slices and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread the Doritos out on two large cookie sheets. Spoon a small dollop of refried beans on each chip. Cut each package of cheese into 16 slices. Place a slice of cheese on each Dorito. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese melts.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll the pastry sheet into a 15x10-inch rectangle. Cut in half lengthwise. Place the pastry onto two greased baking sheets.

Prick the pastry thoroughly with a fork. Sprinkle with the garlic powder. Bake for 10 minutes or until the pastries are golden. Divide the cheese, olives, pepper and oregano among the pastries. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Remove the pastries from the baking sheets and let cool on wire racks for 10 minutes. Cut each pastry into 16 squares.

Tip: A sheet of puff pastry sheet makes a delicious, flaky crust for any kind of pizza. Top a sheet with your favorite pizza toppings and bake as the puff pastry package directs.

Puppies that are up for adoption play in a football “stadium” complete with camera flashes and a referee who serves “puppy penalties.” There’s a water bowl cam, instant replays and a half-time show with kittens.

Last year, a parrot named Pepper kicked off the Puppy Bowl with a unique take on the National Anthem. New this year is panoramic aerial coverage provided by the Twizzlers blimp and a crew of hamsters. Also new this year are bunny “cheerleaders.”

The Puppy Bowl VI Web site, http://animal.discovery.com/tv/
puppy-bowl/puppy-bowl.html, has pictures of the starting lineup and vital stats, including name, age and breed. Not sure how to throw a Puppy Bowl party? The Web site includes plenty of recipes for humans and dogs, decoration suggestions and game ideas.

In a thoughtful nod to their female viewers, the cable networks roll out the chick flicks on Super Bowl Sunday. Invite the girls over for a chick flick marathon. Center the food around a chocolate theme and ask guests to bring tissues.